Destruction-free and contactless inspection method and inspection apparatus for surfaces of components with ultrasound waves

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of nondestructive and contactless testing of components ( 3 ), wherein ultrasonic waves ( 6 ) are irradiated onto the surface of the component ( 3 ) at a predefinable, non-perpendicular angle of incidence ( 9 ) using an ultrasonic transmission sound transducer ( 1 ) arranged spaced apart from the surface of the component ( 3 ) and the intensity of the ultrasonic waves ( 7 ) reflected from the surface of the component ( 3 ) is detected with time resolution and/or frequency resolution by the antenna array elements ( 2 n ) of an ultrasonic antenna array ( 2 ) configured for detecting ultrasonic waves ( 7 ) and the phase shift of the ultrasonic waves guided at the surface of the test body is determined therefrom with respect to the ultrasonic waves ( 7 ) directly reflected at the surface of the component ( 3 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of nondestructive and contactless testing of components ( 3 ), wherein ultrasonic waves ( 6 ) are irradiated onto a surface of a component ( 3 ) at a predefinable, non-perpendicular angle of incidence ( 9 ) using an ultrasonic transmission sound transducer ( 1 ) spaced apart from the surface of the component ( 3 ) and ultrasonic waves ( 7 ) reflected from the surface of the component ( 3 ) are detected,
 characterized in that 
 an ultrasonic intensity of the ultrasonic waves ( 7 ) reflected at the surface of the component ( 3 ) detected by antenna array elements ( 2   n ) of an ultrasonic antenna array ( 2 ) configured for detecting ultrasonic waves ( 7 ) is detected, 
 and 
 a phase shift of the ultrasonic waves irradiated and guided at the surface of the component is determined therefrom 
 with respect to the ultrasonic waves ( 7 ) directly reflected at the surface of the component ( 3 ). 
 
     
     
       2. A method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that 
 the ultrasonic intensity is detected with time resolution and/or with frequency resolution and a frequency dependence of a propagation speed of the ultrasonic waves irradiated and guided at the surface of the component ( 3 ) is determined therefrom. 
 
     
     
       3. A method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that 
 the frequency dependence of the propagation speed of the ultrasonic waves irradiated and guided at the surface of the component ( 3 ) is determined by the frequency dependence of an ultrasonic wave angle of irradiation ( 9 ) 
 which has a minimum of the detected ultrasonic intensity at the antenna array elements ( 2   n ) of the ultrasonic antenna array ( 2 ) configured for detecting the ultrasonic waves ( 7 ) for a respective irradiated ultrasonic wave frequency. 
 
     
     
       4. A method in accordance with  claim 3 ,
 characterized in that 
 the angle of irradiation ( 9 ) at the surface of the component ( 3 ) is varied by a temporal and spatial control and/or regulation of an excitation of antenna array elements ( 1   n ) of an ultrasonic antenna array ( 1 ) configured for emitting ultrasonic waves ( 6 ) without a movement of the ultrasonic antenna array ( 1 ) that is configured for emitting ultrasonic waves. 
 
     
     
       5. A method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that 
 the ultrasonic waves ( 6 ) irradiated onto the surface of the component ( 3 ) are focused in a direction of the surface of the component ( 3 ) by a temporal and spatial control and/or regulation of the excitation of an antenna array elements ( 1   n ) of an ultrasonic antenna array ( 1 ) configured for emitting ultrasound. 
 
     
     
       6. A method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that 
 a defined spatial and/or temporal intensity distribution of the ultrasonic waves ( 6 ) irradiated onto the component ( 3 ) is achieved by a temporal and spatial control and/or regulation of an excitation of antenna array elements ( 1   n ) of an ultrasonic antenna array ( 1 ) configured for emitting ultrasound. 
 
     
     
       7. A method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that 
 each antenna array element ( 1   n ) of an ultrasonic antenna array ( 1 ) configured for emitting ultrasound is individually excited for emitting ultrasonic waves ( 6 ); 
 the intensity of the ultrasonic waves ( 7 ) reflected from the surface of the component ( 3 ) is detected by all antenna array elements ( 2   n ) of the ultrasonic antenna array ( 2 ) configured for detecting ultrasound; and 
 the detected ultrasonic intensities are time-resolved and/or frequency-resolved and are superimposed. 
 
     
     
       8. A method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that 
 the ultrasound wave radiations and the ultrasound wave reflections are carried out by an ultrasonic antenna array ( 1  or  2 ) by alternating switching of the ultrasonic antenna array ( 1  or  2 ). 
 
     
     
       9. A method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that 
 the ultrasonic waves ( 6 ) radiated by an ultrasonic antenna array ( 1 ) which are reflected at the surface of the component ( 3 ) 
 are reflected by a reflector element and the ultrasonic waves ( 7 ) reflected in turn at the surface of the component ( 3 ) are detected by the or a ultrasonic antenna array ( 1  or  2 ) configured for detecting ultrasonic waves. 
 
     
     
       10. A method in accordance with  claim 9 ,
 carried out using exactly one ultrasonic antenna array. 
 
     
     
       11. A method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that 
 the radiated ultrasonic waves are directed to the component ( 3 ) arranged in a liquid bath ( 4 ). 
 
     
     
       12. An apparatus for carrying out the method in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising at least one ultrasonic transmission sound transducer or antenna array ( 1 ) configured for radiating ultrasonic waves and at least one antenna array ( 2 ) configured for detecting reflected ultrasonic waves ( 7 ),
 characterized in that 
 the ultrasonic transmission sound transducer ( 1 ) is configured for varying an angle of incidence ( 9 ) of the ultrasound waves ( 6 ) onto the surface of the component ( 3 ); 
 and/or 
 in that the apparatus has an ultrasonic antenna array ( 1 ) configured for emitting ultrasonic waves ( 6 ); 
 and 
 in that an ultrasonic antenna array ( 2 ) is configured for detecting the reflected ultrasonic waves ( 7 ). 
 
     
     
       13. An apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 ,
 characterized in that 
 the apparatus has the ultrasonic sound transducer ( 1 ) configured for emitting ultrasonic waves ( 6 ) which is configured for adjusting the angle of inclination of its ultrasonic wave emission on the surface of the component ( 3 ); 
 and includes an ultrasonic antenna array ( 2 ) configured for detecting reflected ultrasonic waves ( 7 ). 
 
     
     
       14. An apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 ,
 characterized in that 
 the apparatus has an ultrasonic antenna array ( 1  or  2 ) 
 which is configured for switching between ultrasonic wave radiation and ultrasonic wave detection, 
 and has an ultrasonic reflector element. 
 
     
     
       15. An apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 ,
 characterized in that 
 the ultrasonic antenna array(s) ( 1 ,  2 ) is/are configured as line antenna arrays and/or as matrix antenna arrays and/or as ring antenna arrays. 
 
     
     
       16. Use of an apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , for characterizing surface coatings and/or surface processing states of surface-strengthened components.